Using TLB to Teach Foreign Relations Law

This post discusses Foreign Relations Law as part of our series explaining how professors can use resources on TLB to teach various classes. Previous posts have discussed Transnational Litigation, Civil ProcedureInternational Business Transactions, and Conflict of Laws.

Although TLB focuses on litigation, and although Foreign Relations Law classes cover many topics that are rarely litigated, there is significant overlap.  The two main foreign relations casebooks (Murphy, Swaine & Wuerth and Bradley, Deeks & Goldsmith) both cover a number of topics that TLB addresses in various ways including immunities, human rights litigation, the act of state doctrine, and extraterritoriality.  For all of these topics, TLB has posts that can help instructors reinforce basic doctrine, as well as other posts that highlight recent developments such as pending legislation, lower court cases with interesting fact patterns, pending cert petitions, and so on.  Finally, although neither casebook focuses directly on sanctions, instructors can use TLB to add some readings on this important topic, especially as it relates to Russia and Afghanistan. The sanctions readings allow for a discussion of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the recognition power, immunities, and very interesting current policy issues.

Human Rights Litigation

Extraterritoriality

Sanctions & Terrorism

Immunities

The Act of State Doctrine